Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

benign

/bɪˈnaɪn/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.51 in modern English

Syllables: be-nign
IPA: /bɪˈnaɪn/

9

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Kind; gentle; mild.

adj

Of a climate or environment, mild and favorable.

adj

Not harmful to the environment.

adj

Not posing any serious threat to health; not particularly aggressive or recurrent.

Example Sentences

"But though we both entertained these ideas, we differed in their application. Resentment added also a sting to my censure; and I reprobated Raymond's conduct in severe terms. Adrian was more benign, more considerate."
"I people my world with benign spirits. Everything talks to me and I respond to it."
"During it, [Ashley] Graham attempted to ask the actor [Hugh Grant] a series of benign questions, and he gave her very little to work with."
"an ozone-benign refrigerant"
"a benign tumor"
"Despite the gruesome way it looks, cottontail rabbit papillomavirus is often benign, and many rabbits end up fighting it off on their own."

Etymology

From Middle English benigne, benygne, from Old French benigne, from Latin benignus (“kind, good”), from bene (“well”) + genus (“origin, kind”). Compare malign.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: benigne, benignus

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /bɪˈnaɪn/
British English: /bɪˈnaɪn/

Inflected Forms

benigner (comparative) more benign (comparative) benignest (superlative) most benign (superlative)

Derived Forms

benignancy benignant benignity benignly benignness nonbenign unbenign

Phrases

benign neglect benign paroxysmal positional vertigo benign prostate enlargement benign prostatic hyperplasia

Synonyms

nonmalignant benignant

Antonyms

malignant malign

Rhymes With

line fine design sign mine nine wine decline define divine shine pine

Questions

How do you pronounce benign?: The recorded pronunciation is /bɪˈnaɪn/.
What does benign mean?: Kind; gentle; mild.
Where does benign come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce benign

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “benign”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/bɪˈnaɪn/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “benign”.
Repeat and practice — Say “benign” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.